After the warranty expires on a computer, consumers, small office / home office users and small- and medium-sized businesses may find themselves helpless, grasping at straws and stranded when problems arise.

Without costly warranty extension plans or an IT department, there is little to do but pay a Fort Lauderdale computer repair service.

Right?

Yes, but alternatives to very costly, unsafe Ft. Lauderdale computer repair shops and third-party service contracts are multiplying.

More and more often, consumers and businesses are getting technical help from a growing number of remote computer repair services. Remote PC repair centers - both online and phone-based - are fast becoming a safe haven for individual computer users and smaller companies that lack IT staff.

In a two-part series, Tech News World examined this trend and compared a few remote repair possibilities. Follow the link for their full report. We have summarized a few excerpts to help guide South Florida consumers...

THE OS MATTERS

Experts say remote PC support service is beneficial for small businesses with fewer than 10 computers, and caters to an installed base of users of a particular computing platform. What does this mean for you?

Few remote support centers for Mac and Linux systems exist beyond user discussion forums and dedicated developer communities.

The bottom line: If you are running Linux or a Mac, have a contact handy to help you out if there are issues, experts say. You may not be able to depend on the same array of remote options as traditional PC users.

A GROWING LIST OF OPTIONS

Consumers and small home office users seeking a remote Fort Lauderdale computer repair service can easily find many choices by plugging the term "remote PC repair Ft. Lauderdale" or similar search terms into any number of appropriate search engines.

The downside?

Like any business, not all remote PC repair sites operate the same way. They charge a wide range of prices, and all do not offer the same solutions and satisfaction guarantees.

For instance, here are three companies that offer remote PC repair, each offering a very different approach to meeting the same goal:

• OnForce: An online market for on-site tech services, OnForce allows computer users to enter a ZIP code to view local certified, independent computer repair and service technicians. You can also look at recent work orders posted on the site. Work orders average about $100 per, with the system set up so that the IT help provider isn't paid unless the customer is fully satisfied with the services rendered.
• LivePC Help: Offers 24-7 phone and online support. The bulk of customers are consumers frustrated with manufacturers that do not offer good computer repair and network support. Frequent fixes are for slow computers, screens flooded with popups, and error messages that don't go away.
• My Computer Works: Uses a subscription model to keep customers coming back, much of the computer service is based on setting up peripherals like iPods for legal downloading and the like. Technicians remotely access the consumers' or businesses' computers using an encrypted line. For hardware failures that cannot be fixed remotely, technicians do assist with identifying problems and ordering replacement parts.